10 TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

1. Drink a lot of water

I know you have heard this a thousand times, but let's make it a thousand and one. Drink it, your body needs and wants it. Reach for water first before other liquids. I doubled the amount of water I drank every day and it helped me in so many areas....most noticeably in my skin. It will help make the transition a lot easier if you are well hydrated.

2. Trick the eye, trick the mind

When we first started out, I found it was much easier on me and my family if I cooked foods that looked and tasted like the foods we were used to eating. I made a LOT of zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash and cauliflower rice (still do actually....yum), and I re-created the recipes we were used to eating by using paleo-friendly ingredients.

3. Stash some snacks

Take some snacks with you so you don't find yourself hungry and tempted. I always keep a small bag of raw nuts and dried fruits with me just in case I find myself somewhere that does not have paleo options available. Fresh fruit or vegetables is also an easy grab-and-go snack.

4. Don't think of this as a diet

This is a lifestyle and it requires that you modify many parts of your life to make it work. If paleo doesn't work for you 100%, adjust it so that it does. If you feel deprived and are not happy then this will not work. My husband and I will have a "cheat" meal every couple weeks, and we enjoy a glass of red wine every now and then. Find the plan that works for you and your family.

5. Listen to your body

When you are thirsty, drink water. When you are full, stop eating. When you are hungry, eat. When something makes your body tired or your stomach hurt shortly afterwards, then don't eat it anymore. This may sounds obvious, but most of us do not listen to what our body is trying to tell us. We get so used to feeling bad that we forget what feeling good really feels like. Your body will tell you what it needs.

6. Prepare ahead of time

There are a lot of new ingredients you will encounter when you start looking through paleo recipes (what the heck are coconut aminos??). Get rid of anything non-paleo in your cupboards and fridge, and stock up on the things you should be eating and the ingredients you will need to be successful. Click here for my list of basic paleo items to stock your cupboard with.

7. Give it a month

I found the transition to paleo to be easy, but my poor husband was not so lucky. The first few weeks were hard for him...he had headaches, and was really crabby. Reaaaaallly crabby. Adjusting to a new lifestyle can be challenging, but give it a month and you will be amazed. You can stick to anything for a month right?

8. Set aside time to plan

This lifestyle requires you shop and cook more frequently than you may be used to. I usually spend Sundays planning out the meals for the next week and preparing my shopping list. Find a few "go-to" recipes that are easy to throw together and keep those handy for when you need a quick meal. You can use my paleo Grocery Checklist and my paleo Weekly Meal Planner template to help you.

9. Get creative

Don't just eat grilled chicken and broccoli every night. You will get bored very quickly. There are so many delicious paleo recipes available, so you have no excuse not to eat something exciting. This is a great opportunity to cook new things you have never tried before.

10. Educate yourself

Read all of the material you can about paleo. You will find a lot of conflicting ideas and information about what is and is not paleo (dairy...alcohol...white potatoes...vinegar), but ultimately the foundation is all the same. Understanding and believing that this lifestyle is better for you and your family will help ensure that you are successful at following it.